La « bataille des comités de soutien » ou la droite en campagne

Abstract

The «battle of the support committees», or the right on campaign The "battle of the support committees " for Raymond Barre and Jacques Chirac was an episode of the presidential campaign, thus named by journalists. Elected officials and other personalities chose to support one of the two candidates of the " classic " Right, contrary to their past party attachments or their presumed sympathies. The " battle " sheds light on the Right on campaign and the competitive /cooperative relations between Raymond Barre and Jacques Chirac, each thinking that he would need the other in the second round. Jacques Chirac appeared ex post in a dominant (but not hegemonic) position. Raymond Barre followed his rival's moves rather than preceding them. Jacques Chirac's team demonstrated the existence of clearly identified and legitimate spokes-persons. That of Raymond Barre, on the other hand, showed an escalation of a rhetoric which went in all directions. In addition, the "battle of the support committees " emphasized the interactions between the political professionals and the journalists as well as the determinant role of the latter in the " visibilization " of political actions. All this indicates how much both categories of actors participate in the production of a " legitimate " conception of politics and their common belief in the efficacy of rites and practices to which the voter is presumed to be attentive.